News from the wsu-northwestern Washington Research & Extension Center at Mount Vernon Winter 2004/2005

News from the WSU-Northwestern Washington

Research & Extension Center at Mount Vernon

Winter 2004/2005

Hello from WSU-NWREC, and welcome to the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter. As we begin our work in 2005, WSU-NWREC faculty and staff wish to express gratitude to the numerous people who have dedicated time, talent and resources to the Center and future of agriculture during the past year. We thank the Center's fundraising committee, Sue Christianson (chair), Patrick Kramer (WSU), Bob Rose (advisory), and Mike Fohn, John Roozen and Alice Takahara (members at large) for their efforts in helping to secure much-needed additional financial resources for the Center. We sincerely appreciate the wonderful gift of the Steve Sakuma family in support of the building project and in honor of Atsusa Sakuma. We are grateful to Allan Osberg's continuing interest in the Center, and his thoughtful contribution to the Olson Heritage Farmhouse in honor of the Olson family's legacy. We thank Skagit County Farm Bureau, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, and the many businesses who contributed to the Olson Heritage Farmhouse renovation effort. We are very fortunate for the unwavering support of Northwest Agriculture Research Foundation, and their continued funding of our many research activities. We appreciate the efforts of the many people from throughout the region who are contributing to the Ag Incubator project, and are pleased that a feasibility study is now underway. We thank the Center's volunteers for the improvements and beauty they bring to the display gardens. To you all--we are inspired by your generosity, gifts and talents-- thank you so much.
-Debra Ann Inglis, Interim Director/Assistant Dean

-Tim Miller, Associate Weed Scientist

-Lindsey du Toit, Assistant Plant Pathologist

-Gary Moulton, Extension Fruit Horticulturist

Construction Activities

Many activities are underway in support of the upcoming construction at WSU-NWREC. The new septic system and drainfield are nearly complete, an electrical upgrade is currently underway to allow transitional use of the vehicle storage building during construction, the Native Plant Society Garden is partially moved, the trailer has been relocated to the east side of the campus, fencing and new trees have been placed around the display gardens, the vegetable pathology lab has been moved to the library, and a new facilities reservation system is now in place. Further, WSU Capital Planning and ARC Architects are finishing the review phase of the construction documents (available for viewing in our auditorium). The faculty and staff thank everyone in the community for cooperation, valuable assistance, and most of all, patience, during this transition!

News

Advertising for a new small fruit horticulturist at WSU-NWREC ended in January, and the search committee has begun to screen applicants, rank candidates and arrange for interviews. Tentatively, interviews of the top candidates are anticipated sometime in March. The position will be at the associate or assistant scientist level, 75% research and 25% extension, and the incumbent will be expected to develop an extramurally-funded small fruit physiology program with emphasis on, but not limited to, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. Inquiries can be directed to Dr. Pat Moore (253-445-4569).

People

A warm welcome to Pat King who recently started employment as WSU-NWREC's new administrative manager. Pat joins us most recently from WSU-Prosser, but also has worked at the WSU-Wenatchee and WSU-Pullman campuses. Her enthusiasm, knowledge and familiarity with the WSU system will be a great asset in her new role.

Best of luck to Jan Watts in her much-deserved retirement. We especially appreciate her support during the last 6 months during the Center's transition to a new Interim Director.
Thanks to Michele Fry and Joyce Skelton for their excellent support as part-time receptionists in the front office until the office assistant position is permanently filled.

Thanks to Dr. Fran Pierce, Director of WSU Precision Ag Program at Prosser, who gave a workshop in November on the new AgWeatherNet weather station now at WSU-NWREC.

The annual meeting of the Western Washington Horticulture Assoc. was held at Seatac on January 11-13^th. Gary Moulton helped organize the sections of the program on enology and viticulture, and presented the results of the wine grape project at the viticulture session. Tim Miller and Lindsey du Toit gave 5 presentations in the vegetable seed session, and Tim Miller gave a talk in the bulb session.

Presentations and Workshops

Oct 7. To Snohomish Co. Ag Advisory Board, "Revitalization efforts at WSU-NWREC" by Debbie Inglis.

Oct 16. The annual fall Field Day & Open House was held, in cooperation with the Western Washington Fruit Research Foundation. The moderator was Dr. Bob Norton, WSU Professor Emeritus, who also gave a talk on fruit tree management in home orchards. Dr. Margriet Dogteram, of Beediverse Products, Coquitlam, B.C., gave a demonstration and talk on care of Orchard Mason Bees, and David Johnson, author and fruit breeder, spoke on successful grape culture in western Washington conditions. Loretta Walker, Master Gardener and Home Economist, demonstrated culinary uses for fruit from the home garden. The talks were followed by a tour of the orchard in which participants sampled fruit in the field and asked questions about tree fruit varieties and culture. Approximately 200 people attended the field day.
Oct 20. To Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club, "Changes at WSU-NWREC" by Debbie Inglis.
Oct 23. At The All About Fruit Show sponsored by the Seattle Tree Fruit Society at Factoria Mall in Bellevue, Jacky King and Hollis Spitler set-up a fruit display and answered questions about fruit research. Hollis Spitler also gave a talk on blueberry culture for the home garden.
Nov 2. To Pesticide Safety Education & IPM program in Mount Vernon, "Principles of disease management" by Lindsey du Toit.
Nov 4. To Burlington Rotary Club, "Revitalization of the WSU-NWREC" by Debbie Inglis.
Nov 4. To the Washington State Weed Conference in Yakima, WA, “Weed Control in Apiaceae Seed Crops” by Tim Miller.
Nov 5. To the Wine Grape Workshop in Silverdale, WA, Gary Moulton gave a talk aimed at providing information from his wine grape trials to those interested in potential commercial wine grape production.

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Nov 8–12 and 15-19. A Cider School was held at WSU-NWREC, with Peter Mitchell, a cider expert from Worcestershire, England, as instructor. Gary Moulton spoke on orchard culture and management, and conducted a hands-on instruction session in the field. The classes drew participants from as far away as Indiana and Michigan as well as from our region.

Nov 10. To the Invasive Knotweed Symposium in Everett, WA, “Susceptibility of Knotweed (Polygonum spp.) to Various Herbicides” by Tim Miller.
Nov 13. The Northwest Cider Society held their annual North American Cider Competition and Awards Banquet at the Lake Washington Technical College. Ciders were evaluated by a 3-judge panel from Washington, Oregon and New York, with Peter Mitchell of Worcestershire, England as expert consultant. Medal winners came from British Columbia and Oregon (gold medals) and Indiana, Washington and Oregon (silver medals). Gary Moulton and Jacky King from WSU- NWREC attended the banquet, which featured cuisine with a cider theme designed and prepared by culinary arts students from LWTC.
Nov 18. To the Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Annual Convention in Pasco, WA, “Cucumber Production and Weed Control” by Tim Miller; and “Significance & Management of Botrytis spp. Associated with Neck Rot of Onion” by Lindsey du Toit.
Nov 30. To Willamette Valley Specialty Seed Growers' Meeting in Albany, OR "Weed Control Research in Selected Vegetable Seed Crops" by Tim Miller and "Disease Research & Management Recommendations for Spinach and Brassica Seed Crops" by Lindsey du Toit.
Dec 1-3. To 31^st Annual Hermiston Farm Fair & Trade Show, in Hermiston, OR.

"Iris Yellow Spot of Onions" by Lindsey du Toit.

Dec 1 & 15. To the Southwestern and Puget Sound Regions of Washington State Parks in Auburn, WA and the Northwestern Region of Washington State Parks in Burlington, WA, “Plant Family Characters and Techniques for Keying Plants” by Tim Miller.
Dec 2. To Snohomish Co. Ag Advisory Board, "Research and Tour at WSU-NWREC" by Debbie Inglis.
Dec 2-3. To the annual meeting of the Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research in Boise, ID, “The Interim Results of the Wine Grape Evaluation Trial at WSU-NWREC" by Gary Moulton.
Dec 7. To WWA Small Fruit Workshop in Lynden, WA, "WSU-Northwestern Washington Research & Extension Center" by Debbie Inglis.
Dec 7. To the Western Washington Small Fruit Workshop in Lynden, WA, “New Herbicide Performance in Small Fruit” by Tim Miller.
Dec 9. Guest lecturer for Crop Science 305 at WSU-Pullman, “Integrated Weed Management on the West Side” by Tim Miller.
Dec 9-10. To National Allium Research Conference in Grand Junction, CO, “Fungicide seed treatments and foliar applications for management of Botrytis spp. in Onion Bulb and Seed Crops in WA” and “MSV Challenges to the Onion Seed Industry in WA” by Lindsey du Toit.
Jan 13. To the North Willamette Horticultural Society Ann. Meeting in Portland, OR, “Weed Research in Berry Crops” by Tim Miller.
Jan 18. To the WSU King County Master Gardener trainees in Seattle, WA, “Weed Identification and Control” by Tim Miller.
Jan 19. To the WSU Pre-license trainees in Tacoma, WA, “Weed Control Principles” by Tim Miller.
Jan 20. To the WSU Recertification Workshop in Mill Creek, WA, “Herbicide Mode of Action” and “Herbicide Resistance” by Tim Miller.
Jan 20. To the Wilbur-Ellis University Seminars in Tacoma, WA, “Identification of Several Common Weeds in Western Washington Christmas Tree Production” by Tim Miller.

Jan 20. To annual conference of the Columbia Basin Vegetable Seed Association, in Moses Lake, WA: "Botrytis Grey Mold and IYSV Research in Seed Onion", and "Xanthomonas Bacterial Blight in Seed Carrot" by Lindsey du Toit.

Jan 26. To NW WA Potato Breakfast in Burlington, "Internal Brown Spot and Silver Scurf" by Debbie Inglis.
Jan 27. To Skagit Valley College Business Resource Center in Mount Vernon, "Agriculture in Northwestern Washington" by Debbie Inglis.
Publications and Technical Reports (accepted/published)
du Toit, L.J., Derie, M.L., Chilvers, M.I., and Pelter, G.Q. 2004. Evaluation of the significance and management of seedborne Botrytis spp. associated with neck rot of onion: Progress report. Pages 21-29, In: Proceedings of the18th Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association, 18 November, 2004, Pasco, WA.

du Toit, L.J., Derie, M.L., and Pelter, G.Q. 2004. Efficacy of fungicide seed treatments and foliar applications for management of Botrytis aclada in onion bulb and seed crops in Washington. Pages 93 & 185-194, In: Proceedings of the 2004 National Allium Research Conference, 9-10 December 2004, Grand Junction, CO (presentation also given).

du Toit, L.J., Glawe, D.A., and Pelter, G.Q. 2004. First report of powdery mildew of onion (Allium cepa) caused by Leveillula taurica in the Pacific Northwest. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1049/PHP-2004-1129-01-HN.

du Toit, L.J., Pelter, G.Q., and Pappu, H.R. 2004. IYSV challenges to the onion seed industry in Washington. Pages 103 & 213-217, In: Proceedings of the 2004 National Allium Research Conference, 9-10 December 2004, Grand Junction, CO. (Presentation also given).

du Toit, L.J., Derie, M.L., and Hernandez-Perez, P. 2005. Verticillium wilt in spinach seed production. Plant Disease 89:4-11.

du Toit, L.J., Derie, M.L., and Hernandez-Perez, P. 2005. Leaf spot of spinach: 3rd year report. Pages 39-48, In: Proceedings of the 95th Annual Convention of the Western Washington Horticulture Association, 11-13 January 2005, SeaTac, WA. (Presentation also given)

du Toit, L.J., Derie, M.L., and Morrison, R.H. 2005. Seed treatments for control of black leg of Brassicas. Pages 57-58, In: Proceedings of the 95th Annual Convention of the Western Washington Horticulture Association, 11-13 January 2005, SeaTac, WA. (Presentation also given).

du Toit, L.J., Inglis, D.A., Derie, M.L., and Gunderson, B. 2005. Verticillium wilt in spinach seed production. Pages 33-37, In: Proceedings of the 95th Annual Convention of the Western Washington Horticulture Association, 11-13 January 2005, SeaTac, WA. (Presentation also given).

du Toit, L.J., Miller, T.W., Derie, M.L., Libbey, C., Maupin, B., and Peterson, R. 2005. Efficacy of mustard cover/biofumigant crops for control of weeds and Fusarium wilt in spinach seed production: 2nd year report. Pages 27-32, In: Proceedings of the 95th Annual Convention of the Western Washington Horticulture Association, 11-13 January 2005, SeaTac, WA. (Presentation also given).

du Toit, L.J., and Pelter, G.Q. 2005. Susceptibility of storage onion cultivars to Iris yellow spot in the Columbia Basin of Washington, 2004. Biological & Cultural Tests 20: V006.

Glawe, D.A., du Toit, L.J., and Pelter, G.Q. 2004. First report of powdery mildew on potato caused by Leveillula taurica in North America. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2004-1214-01-HN.

Glawe, D.A., Pelter, G.Q., and du Toit, L.J. 2005. First report of powdery mildew of carrot and parsley caused by Erysiphe heraclei in Washington State. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2005-0114-01-HN.

Johnson, D. A., Inglis, D. A., and Miller, J. S. 2004. Control of potato tuber rots caused by oomycetes with foliar applications of phosphorous acid. Plant Dis. 88:1153-1159.

Miller, T.W. 2005. Weed control in vegetable seed. Pages 49-56, In: Proceedings of the 95th Annual Convention of the Western Washington Horticulture Association, 11-13 January 2005, SeaTac, WA. (Presentation also given).

Miller, T.W. 2005. Pre-bloom weed control in tulips. Pages 61-62, In: Proceedings of the 95th Annual Convention of the Western Washington Horticulture Association, 11-13 January 2005, SeaTac, WA. (Presentation also given).

Miller, T.W. 2004. Natural herbicides and amendments for weed control. In: Certified Organic and Biologically Derived Pesticides: Environmental, Health, and Efficacy Assessment, A.S. Felsot, ed. American Chemical Society (accepted).

Miller, Tim. 2004. Frustrated by Fabaceae? --An Identification Workshop. Proceedings, Washington State Weed Conference, Yakima, WA.

Miller, T.W. and B.G. Maupin. 2005. Effects of dormant-season and spring-applied herbicides in Pacific Northwest matted-row strawberry. Proceedings, Northeastern Weed Science Society Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., p. 121.

Porter, L. D., Inglis, D. A., and Johnson, D. A. 2004. Identification and characterization of resistance to Phytophthora infestans in leaves, stems, flowers, and tubers of potato clones in the Pacific Northwest. Plant Dis. 88:965-972.

Tomlinson, A.N., Correll, J.C., and du Toit, L.J. 2004. Genetic and molecular characterization of Verticillium dahliae from spinach. In: Abstracts of the 2004 National Spinach Conference, 15-16 December, San Antonio, TX. (Presentation also given).

Recent Research Grants Awarded (competitive)
$3,580 from the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration for “Perennial weed control in blueberries” to Tim Miller.

$3,150 from the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration for “Testing of pendimethalin and dimethenamid-p for tolerance in tulip” to Tim Miller.

$3,500 from the CA Processed Onion and Garlic Research Committee of the CA League of Food Processors, and $5,000 from the NV Onion and Garlic Advisory Board for continuing research on several seedborne diseases of onion to Lindsey du Toit.

$4,340 from the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration for “Testing of micro-rate technology for weed control in table beet and Swiss chard seed crops” to Tim Miller.

$4,505 from the Washington State Blueberry Commission for “Weed control in blueberries” to

Tim Miller.

$5,000 from the Columbia Basin Vegetable Seed Association (CBVSA) via the Northwest Agricultural Research Foundation (NARF) and $8,500 from the Washington State Commission for Pesticide Registration (WSCPR) for the project "Efficacy of Actigard, bactericides, and compost teas for control of bacterial blight in carrot seed crops" to Lindsey du Toit.

$7,500 from the CBVSA via NARF, and $9,852 from the WSCPR for the project "Efficacy of neonicotinyl insecticides and Actigard for management of Iris yellow spot virus in onion seed crops in Washington" to Lindsey du Toit & Gary Pelter.

$7,000 from the Washington State Red Raspberry Commission for “Weed control in red raspberries” to Tim Miller.

$10,840 from the Washington State Strawberry Commission for “Weed control in strawberries” to Tim Miller.

$11,303 from the Washington State Department of Agriculture for “Evaluation of knotweed control projects in southwestern Washington” to Tim Miller.
WSU at Other Locations
WSU Snohomish County

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  Mike Hackett and Dr. Tim Miller worked with Snohomish County Farm Bureau President Dale Reiner to plant an experimental plot of rapeseed for canola oil on his farm in Monroe. The goal is to determine if canola oil production for biodiesel fuel would be a practical crop alternative for Snohomish county farmers.
  

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  Mike Hackett taught a class on Alternative Farm Enterprises for the Region, to 120 farmers at the Snohomish county small farm workshop in Stanwood and hosted an organic livestock production workshop via whets (live videoconference) through WSU. He also hosted many meetings/planning sessions with a working group of producers and food business people from several counties to develop & establish a grass-fed beef marketing effort.
  
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  Mike Hackett & Curt Moulton played a major organizational role in developing & facilitating a key Snohomish county-sponsored conference- "Focus on Farming" at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. Other regional WSU extension faculty/staff assisted in this major effort. Co-hosts were county executive Aaron Reardon and county council chair John Koster. Over 350 people attended. Its purpose was to arrive at the beginning of a county strategic plan for agriculture.
  

Upcoming Events at WSU-NWREC

Mark your calendars now for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Center’s new building June 1, 2005, in the a.m. More information to come.

WSU-NWREC Graduate Student Activities and News

Congratulations to Renee Priya Prasad, Ph.D. entomology student, on her recent wedding.

Graduate Student research assistantship available to study seed treatment alternatives for organic vegetable and vegetable seed production. The project will contribute towards an M.S. degree in plant pathology. Contact Debbie Inglis or Lindsey du Toit (848-6143) for information.
Martin Chilvers, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Lindsey du Toit’s program finished up his year-long project on neck rot of onion in November, and has accepted another postdoctoral position in the WSU Department of Plant Pathology.
WSU-NWREC bids a fond farewell to Christiane Steen who returned to Germany with her husband in December.
--Permission to reprint the WSU-NWREC News newsletter is granted, provided the intended meaning is not changed and explicit credit is given to the publication source.--